Electrical contact for lamps



Nov. 1, 1932. F. w. c. NEUNER 1,335,467

ELECTRICAL CONTACT FOR LAMPS Filed March 17. 1928 I N VEN TOR. FAfDfAlof WI. NEz/Nf/P.

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Patented Nov. 1, 1932 UNITED STATES sarsnr OFFICE FREDERICK W. C.NEUNER, OF CONNERSVILLE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR T0 INDIANA. LAMP CORPORATION,OF CONNERSVILLE, INDIANA, CORPORATION ELECTRICAL CONTACT FOR LAMPSApplication filed March 17, 1923. Serial 1%. 262,550.

This invention relates to a lamp construction, and particularly to theelectrical connection or contacts applicable for use with a stop andtail signal lamp.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and economical means,from both an eficiency and production standpoint, for making separateelectrical contact between the double circuit and the stop and taillight bulbs.

The principal feature of the invention resides in the construction andarrangement of the respective contact pins resiliently mounted in theconnecting plug, and the resilient contact strips associated therewithand extending into the lamp sockets for exerting a spring pressureagainst the lamp bulbs for locking them in the bayonet slots thereof,while making electrical contact therewith.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from theaccompanying drawing and the following description and claims:

Figure 1 is a central vertical section through the lamp. Fig. 2 is asection taken on the lines 2-2 of Fig. 1.

In the drawing there is shown a signal lamp having a casing 10 with astop lens 1 and a tail light lens 12 associated with their respectivecompartments 13 and 14 separated by the partition 15. In each of saidcompartments there is mounted a lamp bulb 16 removably secured in thebayonet sockets 17 secured to the rear of the housing.

In the center of the rear of said housing,

' there is a connecting plug 18 to which the connecting socket 19 issecured for receiving the usual attachment plug 20. The plug 18 isprovided with cylindrical recesses 21 in which the compression springs22 are mounted. Extending through the plug adjacent the compressionsprings and slidable with respect thereto, there are stems 23 of thecontacting strips 24 and 25, said stems having outwardly turned portions26 forming suitable heads for engaging the free ends of the springs 22.The contacting strips 24 and 25 comprise a continuation of the stems 28,being bent laterally from the inner ends thereof. Thus, when the plug 20is inserted in place, the contact heads thereon bear against therespective heads 26 of the contacting strips 24- and 25 so as to make anelectrical connection therewith. The springs 22 act to maintain saidheads in contact while at the same time looking the plug 20 in positionthrough the medium of the usual bayonet slot connection.

The contacting strips 24 and 25 are adapted to extend laterally into thecompartments 13 and 1 1, having their ends extending into the lampsockets 17 through suitable openings provided therein. The outer freeends of said strips are secured to fibre insulated discs 27 which fitssnugly in the sockets for preventing the ends of the electric stripsfrom making electrical contact with the walls thereof, while engagingand making contact with the lamp bulbs. If desired, small compressionsprings '28 may be inserted etween the fibre discs 27 and the base ofthis socket for exerting an increased spring tension therein. l-Iowever,under normal conditions, the spring tension inherent in the contactingstrips is sufiicient to exert a pressure on the lamp bulbs for efiectingthe electrical contact therewith while at the same time removablylockingthem in the bayonet slot connection with the socket.

The invention claimed is:

1. In a lamp construction, the combination with a pair of lamp bulbsockets therein, of a double electric circuit connecting plug mountedtherein, said plug being provided with a pair of recesses, compressionsprings mounted in said recesses, a pair of oppositely disposed electriccontact strips supported by said plug and having a portion thereofslidably mounted therein, heads formed on the inner ends of said slidingportion adapted to engage the free ends of said compression springs andmaintain said strips in contact position under spring tension, the freeends of said contact strips extending into the sockets for bulb contact,and compression springs mounted in each of said sockets for maintainingsaid free ends in contact position under spring tension and for bulblooking in the sockets.

2. In a lamp construction, the combination with a pair of lamp bulbsockets therein, a

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double electric circuit connecting plug mounted therein, said plug beingprovided with a pair of substantially parallel recesses therethrough,each laterally enlarged at the same end, compression springs mounted insaid enlargements of said recesses, of a pair of oppositely disposedsubstantially angular electric contact strips supported by said plug andhaving one arm portion freely slidable in said recesses to one side ofthe springs, heads formed on the inner ends of said sliding arm portionsadapted to engage the free and exposed ends of said compression springsfor maintaining said strips in contact position under spring tension,the free end outer angular ends of said contact strips extending intothe sockets for bulb contact, said free ends being constrained forexerting an outward pressure for bulb contact and retention in thesockets.

3. In a lamp construction, the combination with a pair of lamp bulbsmounted there in and bayonet slot sockets therefor, of a double electriccircuit connecting plug mounted therein, said plug being provided with apair of substantially parallel recesses therethrough, compressionsprings mounted in said recesses, a pair of oppositely disposedsubstantially angular electric contact strips supported by said plug andhaving one arm portion freely slidable in said recesses, heads formed ontheinner ends of said sliding arm portions adapted to engage the freeend of said compression springs for maintaining said strips in contactposition under spring tension, the free and outer angular ends of saidcontact strips extending into said sockets to make electric contact withsaid bulbs, said sockets being longitudinally slotted therefor andarranged in substantially parallel relation with the slots disposedtowards each other, said free ends exerting an outward pressure on saidbulbs to make electric contact therewith and retain said bulbs in saidsockets, and compression springs mounted in each of said sockets formaintaining said free end of said contact in contact with said bulbunder spring tension and for locking said bulb in the bayonet slot ofthe socket.

4.. In a lamp construction, the combination with a pair of lamp bulbsockets, a double electric circuit connecting plug, and a plug receivingsocket, a double electric circuit connecting plug mounted in the lastmentioned socket, said last mentioned plug being provided with a pair ofsubstantially parallel recesses extending from one face andterminating'short of the other face, said last mentioned plug having aslot extending through the same from the end of each recess to theopposite face, a coil spring in each recess, a relatively rigid currentconducting contact strip extending through the slot and recess andslidably mounted therein and terminating in angularl'y extending ends,both of which are FREDERICK W'. C. NEUNER.

